Be part of an enchanted evening celebrating the acclaimed female chefs of Bayona and Ralph Brennan Restaurant group, and the grandeur of a 19th century American Townhouse coming back to life!
With fewer than 30 coveted seats, Enchanted Evening on Esplanade offers an exclusive opportunity to step inside preservationist Johnny Maybank's private residence, fresh from its first phase of historic restoration and never before seen by the public. This candlelit night features craft cocktails, fine dining, music, and conversation. We’re thrilled to showcase an exciting collaboration with Bayona’s Chef Christy Engeran and Executive Chef Haley Bittermann of Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, who will dazzle guests with a specially curated menu of Creole haute cuisine.
During this unforgettable evening, guests will also have the chance to meet interior designer Keith Carroll and view the collaborative vision for the house, which blends period furnishings, rich Creole paint colors, and masterful local craftsmanship. This event also supports the work of Hermann-Grima + Gallier Historic Houses, ensuring these architectural treasures and their collections remain a vital part of New Orleans' cultural landscape.
Join us on May 8, 2025, for an unforgettable evening of engaging conversation and 19th-century Creole elegance in one of New Orleans’ most storied neighborhoods. Seats are extremely limited—reserve yours today! An invitation will be mailed to paid guests.
Special Thanks to:
Anne R. Atkinson, Jeremy C. Corkern and Mary L. Cavanaugh for their generous sponsorships!
& thanks to Carey Hero King, Manuel Canovas, and Fabricut for their contributions.
HGGHH was originally founded in 1881 by The Woman's Exchange to promote and empower woman and is proud to continue this tradition by featuring female chefs.
John “Johnny” Maybank
John “Johnny” Maybank, is a native of Charleston, South Carolina, He’s an avid preservationist, having restored several historic properties in Charleston, and a licensed real estate broker in South Carolina, as well as an accomplished sailor. His love for historic properties and architecture started at a young age surrounded by the beauty and history of Charleston and continued into college at the University of Virginia.
On his first visit to New Orleans, Johnny fell in love with the great old port city - its history, culture, laissez faire rhythms and French joie de vivre. He rented an apartment in his current home on Esplanade Avenue and saw the potential of the once grand townhouse that had been divided into rental units. He knew the “bones” of the house were there and just needed a visionary and loving hand to bring it back to its original 1856 splendor.
After purchasing the house in 2018, Johnny undertook a six year renovation with meticulous details that included eliminating the individual apartments in the main house, restoring the grand cypress mouldings and original plasterwork by local artisans, as well as installing hand-rolled German glass in all windows. The next phase will incorporate period appropriate paint colors, wallpaper and furnishings.
Once again the grand double parlor on Esplanade Avenue will host friends, family and gathering like those hosted by the house’s original owner, Madame Louise Chiapella, in the townhouse’s mid 19th-Century heyday.
Keith Carroll
A native of Louisiana, Keith Carroll unites the warmth and classicism of the deep South with a contemporary viewpoint for today’s modern lifestyles. His firm is involved in projects from coast to coast - from a Park Avenue apartment and 1930’s Beverly Hills home to an 1850’s New Orleans townhouse. Keith's professional and business background and his design expertise provide a highly-focused approach to each client's lifestyle, their individual needs, priorities and taste. Fresh color, an interesting mix of beautiful antiques and furnishings, contemporary art and accessories coupled with an eye for precise details and interesting textiles are a hallmark of his work.
Keith’s work has been featured in a wide range of publications, including The Wall Street Journal, House Beautiful, Designer Home Tours, Homeworthy, ElleDecor.com, and the best selling Scalamandre book Haute Decor. Follow Keith on Instagram @keithcarroll or visit his website www.keithcarroll.com.
A heartfelt thanks to the incredibly talented Carey Hero King, a local female artist who beautifully captured the essence of the Esplanade House in her artwork and generously donated it. Your creativity and generosity make history come alive—thank you!
Carey Hero King
Carey Hero King is a Louisiana born artist who lives in New Orleans. Her art reflects various styles, but she has always had a love for color and texture. Presently, most of her work is either oils or pastels. Carey has been featured in various galleries in New Orleans and Florida and her work can be viewed on Instagram at careyherokingartist.
Haley Bittermann
Corporate Executive Chef and Director of Operations
Ralph Brennan Restaurant Goup
A 1990 honors graduate of the Culinary Arts Academy of Cincinnati, Haley first crossed paths with the venerable Ralph Brennan during an auspicious pre-graduation externship at Ralph Brennan's acclaimed Mr. B's Bistro. She subsequently returned to Mr. B's after graduation to train under longtime distinguished Executive Chef, Gerard Maras. In 1993, Haley was bestowed the eminent title of Executive Chef at BACCO, becoming the first woman to don the prestigious top toque in a Brennan family kitchen. In 2000, Haley earned the distinguished title of Corporate Executive Chef of the esteemed Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group. While maintaining her illustrious role as BACCO's Executive Chef, Haley also collaborated with the stellar culinary team at Red Fish Grill and took an active role in launching and overseeing the culinary operations of Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen at the Disneyland Resort® and of Ralph's on the Park in Mid City New Orleans. Since June of 2005, Haley has served with distinction in the dual role of both Corporate Executive Chef and Director of Operations for the esteemed Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, overseeing all facets of restaurant operations and providing key executive guidance. During this fruitful tenure, Haley has launched five new critically acclaimed establishments, including the rebirth of the legendary Brennan's on Royal Street and the transfer of the storied Napoleon House from its longtime proprietors, the venerable Impasto family, to Ralph Brennan and the distinguished Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group.
Christiane Engeran
Chef de Cuisine
Bayona
When Christiane Engeran was only 19, she started her career with renowned Chef Susan Spicer at Bayona. Now, 30 years later, she’s crafting her own legendary gastronomy and serves as Bayona’s Chef de Cuisine. She is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute, a prestigious culinary school now closed. Before returning to New Orleans, she helped open a Caribbean-inspired restaurant in Long Island and worked with Chef Lydia Shire, a James Beard award winner, in Boston at BIBA. When she came back to New Orleans, she worked at Chez Daniel, under Daniel Bonnot, one of the city’s best French chefs. After briefly owning her own restaurant and other pursuits, she eventually returned to Bayona, after Spicer became engaged in opening other establishments and was pulled away from the day-to-day of overseeing Bayona’s kitchen. Both Spicer and Bayona’s co-owner Regina Keever, have embraced Engeran’s leadership of the kitchen, where she maintains old favorites and creates exciting dishes of her own for Bayona’s continuously changing menu.